Alternative to hauppauge for dual DVB-T

Forums › Home Theatre (including HTPC and EPG Collector) › Alternative to hauppauge for dual DVB-T

geekiegeek

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#68951 30-Sep-2010 11:26

I have pretty much had it with hauppauge tuner cards after the TD-500 Windows 7 issue and now another random issue that seems to be caused by a HVR2200.

Does anyone know of a good replacement by another manufacturer?

mm1352000

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#386378 30-Sep-2010 16:03

DigitalNow - digitalnow.com.au
Their dual digital (7164) may be just what you're looking for. Essentially the same as the HVR2200 that you're having trouble with except it has component input (a little more expensive too). Their support is fantastic...

[Edit: lots of recommendations for the HVR2200 here. Maybe one of those people would be kind enough to offer their advice.]

Nety

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#387169 2-Oct-2010 18:06

I wonder if there is a issue with your mobo. Seems a bit suspicious that you are having issues with your hdd's and also your tuners. Although people do have some issues with Hauppauge cards generally they are quite reliable.

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mcraenz

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#387184 2-Oct-2010 19:42

Yeah they're good cards but I've started having issues with my HVR-2200 lately regularly loosing single momentarily. I've also got a Dvico Fusion which I have not issues with so I think it must be a hardware issue. I've order one of those cheap ~$8USD usb tuners off ebay just fun to see if it can works as a stand-in while I try to get my HVR-2200 RMA'd. Although I doubt I'll have much luck, it's 29months old and only has a 24month warranty but I'll see what Ingram say.

But I'll report back how the cheapy works, who knows maybe it will be great.

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mcraenz

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#395012 23-Oct-2010 13:37

I can report the that after a week of use as my primary tuner the USB eBay special is working great. I've put a little review up on my blog. (Link below)

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Disrespective

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#395020 23-Oct-2010 14:30

Perhaps an HD Homerun would be an option. I bought one recently and it is fantastic. It has dual DVB-T tuners that are 'broadcast' over my network. You need a wired or wireless N network to get it to work well but otherwise is great. It means i can watch TV on my Macbook Pro, which doesn't have a DVB-T tuner in it, anywhere in the house. I wish i found one sooner.

trig42

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#395688 26-Oct-2010 08:48

mcraenz: I can report the that after a week of use as my primary tuner the USB eBay special is working great. I've put a little review up on my blog. (Link below)

Did the mcx to f-plug adaptor come with your USB stick, or did you get it seperately?

I need a couple of these and haven't seen them around any of the usual haunts. Any ideas?

Thanks.

valtam

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#395766 26-Oct-2010 13:08

mcraenz: I can report the that after a week of use as my primary tuner the USB eBay special is working great. I've put a little review up on my blog. (Link below)

I take it this isn't a dual tuner? Nice review btw, informative.

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Rollux

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#395824 26-Oct-2010 15:10

How about this?
http://shop.blackgold.tv/epages/BT3159.sf/en_GB/?ObjectPath=/Shops/BT3159/Products/BGT3510

I have their BGT3595 and it's fantastic.
Postage was 12GBP, arrived in about 10 days.

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trig42

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#396483 27-Oct-2010 20:20

That BGT3595 looks like a nice piece of kit. Good value, 4 digital tuners on one card, all you'd need - great for smaller motherboard with only one PCIex x1 slot.

So was that less than $250 landed?

Rollux

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#396572 27-Oct-2010 22:11

At the time with the exchange rate it was 270 landed. But is brilliant bit of kit. Shame we dont get hd coverage here to make full use of it

valtam

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#396582 27-Oct-2010 22:31

Interesting... http://www.digitalnow.com.au/product_pages/Quad.html

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Rollux

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#396682 28-Oct-2010 09:21

Interesting. Has very high requirements being software encoded. BG is hardware, so easier on the cpu (don't need an i5!)
the 3595 is dual DVB-S/2, dual DVB-T, single analogue and an auxialary input (will accept RGB, S video, RCA and stereo)

mm1352000

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#396695 28-Oct-2010 09:42

Two comments:
- the Quad doesn't support analog TV. It is 4xDVB-T + 1xFM + 1xDAB (see http://forums.dvbowners.com/index.php?showtopic=11947&view=findpost&p=78674).
- the signal quality requirements are quite high given that the signal is split to four tuners on the PCB. Think of it as having a splitter built into the card...

mcraenz

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#397361 29-Oct-2010 14:24

trig42:
mcraenz: I can report the that after a week of use as my primary tuner the USB eBay special is working great. I've put a little review up on my blog. (Link below)

Did the mcx to f-plug adaptor come with your USB stick, or did you get it seperately?

I need a couple of these and haven't seen them around any of the usual haunts. Any ideas?

Thanks.

No, I bought it separately. (Also off ebay)

@valtam: Yep just single tuner.

I've just ordered another stick+mcx adaptor. $30 for 2 tuners, not too bad! So far so good anyway!

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richms

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#397531 29-Oct-2010 21:05

The ebay tuners seem to be quite a bit deafer than the DSE settop box - on bunnyears the DSE box works fine, but on my ebay tuner its signal LED constantly flickers and I get breakup of the picture.

Breakup will lead to crap ATI drivers bluescreening on you, so be careful.

But at the price for 3 of them and USB hub, I dont see much reason to spend anymore. mine was recognized as the same winfast device and just worked on 7, and I have ordered several more for friends. The supplied antenna works worse than bunnyears with a UHF loop on them from the $2 shop.

I got the antenna adapter plug off ebay that was a 200mm long cable so that there was less pull on the USB stick, which because the cable looks pretty thin may be losing signifigant signal. off the roof antenna that has been thru a couple of amplifiers on the way to the garage it works fine with no loss of signal so didnt bother investigating any furthur.

Richard rich.ms